State slams new UGC regulations,demands autonomy for varsities

Hyderabad:Chairman of the Telangana State Council of Higher Education Balakista Reddy on Monday expressed concerns at the 25 regulations of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC). These have been criticised by Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. He said that these rules, in their current form, appear to reduce the autonomy of universities and weaken the role of state governments in higher education.

“The Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have already voiced their objections, while stressing the need to safeguard a university’s independence and upholding federal principles. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy shares these concerns and is engaging with other states to form a collective approach,” Reddy said at a press conference here.

One of the main issues that was discussed was the appointment of vice-chancellors. Reddy explained that the current system gives governors, who are nominated by the Centre, almost complete authority in these decisions and leaves states with little involvement.

“Governors, being political appointees, should not have absolute control over decisions that impact the future of universities. A better balance needs to be struck between the roles of governors, the judiciary, and state governments,” he said.

Reddy cited the example of Nalsar University about the extent academic freedom can achieve. “Nalsar operates independently, follows the Bar Council syllabus, and avoids political interference. It shows how autonomy allows institutions to flourish. Unfortunately, the new regulations seem to take away the state’s voice in such matters,” he said.

He also addressed the National Education Policy (NEP), which has been another area of contention. While the policy brings some changes that could improve transparency and benefit students, Reddy noted that certain provisions appear to overstep into areas that should remain under state control.

He added that Telangana, along with Kerala and Tamil Nadu, had submitted detailed reports and written objections to the UGC.

These documents call for protecting the independence of academic institutions and minimising political interference.

Reddy opined that changes aimed at improving education are welcome, but they should not come at the cost of state control or the autonomy of universities.